The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-28
Il 1t Inconsistency, or Is 1t Lack OF
Unanimity?


The various churches declare against the
theatre rs proper place for church-memoers,
and one of the churches recently has been
specific and uncompromising In its enorls 10
prevent church members from frequenting
these performances, except in cases. perhaps
where the performance Is called by another
name.
In the wholesale denunciation of theatres,
we think there is an inconsistency. While
we at all times think 1t proper and right to
discourage anything which is demoraiizing,
vet there ought to be n discrimination. There
arc different grades Of theatres, and there are
different degrees of morality or immortality
taught In them. Therefore we should seek TO
ncutralize the influence OF improper theatres,
while the moral theatre should not receive
the condemnation which is visited upon the
one of less moral tendency.
The theatre of itself cannot he wrong. If 1t
were wrong, would we have so many amateur
theatrical performances under the auspices OF
the members of the church, and with the ap-
proval and countenance Of their preachers?
We had a cantata performance In the Court
House this week, which was we'll attended ny
the best and most devout Christians of the
town-the church-membership being notably
we'll represented The acting was delightful,
and was much enjoyed, and 1t Is hoped that
no souls fair prospects of heaven were blight
ed thereby.
To our mind however, the cantata en-
braced and included all the elements of the
atre, viz: the stage, the costumes, the cur
tains, the presentations, the play or story per-
formed or rehearsed in the presence of people
who had paid for the privilege Of hearing and
seeing.
Was there then lacking in this any element
Of the theatre?
Let him who can, deny It,
Aside from the self-evdent fact, as furnish
ed in the play itself, let US see the definition
of the two words-"cantata" and "theatre"-
rs given by Webster and Worcester:
WEBSTER.
Cantata: "a poem set to music; n musical
composition comprising choruses and solos,
arranged in Il somewhat dramatic manner"
Theatre: "a house for the exhibition OF
dramatic performances, as tragedies, come
lies, and farces."
Cantata: "a poem set to music or a song
intermiXed with recitative; combination,
either lyrical or dramatical, Of resitations,
airs, choruses, &C.
Theatre: "a pace or -ediAce for dramatic
representations or performances; play.
house"
Now, let us look to another interesting pro-
cess of raising money:
From the various notices and reports OF the
actngs of the different communities, much
of the energy OF our people has been devoted
during the Christmas week to eating oysters
and turkeys-and all for the benefit Of the
church, and for the advancement Of the Re-
deemer's kingdom.
Several years ago, raffling for church put
poses was very properly ruled out.
1t now seems to us that the excesses to
which our people are running in the much
eating of turkey, oysters, and other things
which are not needed and which are injurious
to the health-need correction.
Shall man eat turkey in the middle Of
the night-regardless Of ugly dreams-to raise
money for foreign missions?
Shall lovely woman eat gallon OF oys-
ters, to raise money to buy new carpetfor the
church?
Is our piety to be gauged by our ability to
drink lemonade and ice-cream?
Do these eating matches tend to the eleva-
ton OF our morals or to the benefit OF our
souls?
Will the man who has eaten turkey
for foreign missions, and drank bar
rel Of lemonade to buy church carpet
get richer reward at the pearly gates than he
who ate no turkey at oil, or who had no lik-
ing for lemonade?
OF the two-theatres or eating matches-we
believe a theatre to be the lesser evil. In
properly conducted theatre-call 1t cantata,
if you prefer-there is something to appeal 10
the heart and the soul. In the eating match,
there is only catering to the physical side Of
our nature.